Hopkins vs Calzaghe - who won? *2013 Poll*

This is it in a nutshell.

Vitali's entire career is put into historical context and framed by his loss to Lewis. It's unfortunate for him but that's the way it is. His legacy is therefore tarnished by this result.

 

Depends on the way you look at it. Calzaghe beat Jones jr. for the RING lhw title - Jones was past prime but not totally shot at that time. Lewis did beat VK but under pretty controversial circumstances, no matter what some of his fans may say (and I do consider myself as an admirer of Lewis - though not a fanatical one).

Like many things in boxing it's a matter of oppinion and interpretation. But I don't think there is any reason to slag either guy off - both achieved a lot.

 

Calzaghe was the LHW RING champion when facing Jones, Jones was generously ranked #7 at LHW after his wins over Ajamu, Hanshaw and Trinidad. I don't really consider that fighting for the title.

It simply can't be compared to Lewis being past his best, and beating the second best HW of the next decade.

 

Well, though Lewis did get the win, it wasn't exactly convincing as it was only stopped due to injury and there's good reason to think a rematch could have gone the other way (Lewis was slipping from his prime). That's not to say it isn't a good name to have on your record, but it's kinda unfair only to look at the positives of one fighters win and just the negatives of the others'. Roy wasn't considered completely shot at the time when Calzaghe beat him - and Lewis' win over VK does have an asterisk, imo.

 

I kind of look at it too, that as Lewis didn't look good in beating Vitali, Joe didn't look good in beating Hopkins, neither gave the other fighter a rematch, one retired right away, one cashed out on one last fight and retired.

I am not gonna question either of them in retiring. I am sure they just knew they were done.

 

sorry dude but this is ****ing ******ed

 

Agreed - I don't blame either for retiring either, it was probably time. Whatever more they could have done, should have happened earlier in their careers (especially for Calzaghe).

 

You feel the fight was not stopped due to injury:huh - that if the cut had been less serious, VK should still not have been allowed to continue? If so, that's a surprising position.

 

You probably were the only person that did not believe Roy was shot beyond ****.
Noone gave him a snowballs chance in hell of doing anything in that fight.

His legs and punch resistance were long gone at that point and the only thing left was fast hands (which he STILL has)
Which is literally the only thing left from Roy.

 

lol, an injury . . . cause by Lennox's fist! there is no controversy the champ beat up his man until he could no longer continue. you are talking like Lennox had nothing to do with Vittles no longer being able to continue, Vittles did not slip, fall and sprain an ankle, Lewis beat him until the doctor stopped the fight. Yes, Vittles did put up a good fight but he lost and the only people who put n astrisk by it are a small portion of the boxing fans

 

Im sure all fighters train on specific punches to openup cuts.... its obviously nothing random.

I bet it was Lewis plan all along to fall behind but stop him on cuts......
Do you even manage to dress yourself?

 

You are reading things into my post that I'm not writing. I give Lewis some credit for the win but he didn't look good to me in the fight and was behind on points when it was stopped (albeit he did look like he was coming more into it, to be fair). Saying that "Lewis beat him until the doctor stopped the fight" is simply not a fair reflection of what went on in that ring that night. That said, Lewis was slipping from his prime and I don't blame him for leaving without the rematch (though I, personally, would have liked to see it).

 

Lets look back to 2008 when predictions were made about Calzaghe vs Jones and see what people were saying about it to find out if the statement "no-one gave him a snowballs chance in hell of doing anything in that fight" stands up to scrutiny.

A simple google search for Calzaghe/Jones predictions found this from here: www.eastsideboxing.com/weblog/news.php?p=17759&more=1

Bernard Hopkins: “Jones by unanimous decision based on his speed and power.

Lennox Lewis: "Jones has unbelievable speed and Calzaghe's never fought anyone like him. Jones likes it when his opponent comes to him and unfortunately for Calzaghe, that's exactly what he does; comes to his opponent and is right in their face. I pick Jones on points, but I think it’ll be a very close fight."

Jeff Lacy: “It’s going to be a hard fight to pick. If Jones doesn't stay on the ropes and give Calzaghe angles and lots of movement I'm going to go with Jones by decision. Roy can't stay on the ropes and give Joe the chance to throw his slapping punches. This is a great fight for Jones to win and setup a big money fight again with Hopkins!”

Glen Johnson: “Roy Jones will win. I believe Calzaghe fights an amateur style. He throws a lot of slappy punches. Roy throws much more meaningful punches. In general, Calzaghe will throw more punches than Roy, but Roy’s will be harder hitting. Unless the judges are blind, they will see that the harder punches make Jones the winner. They should see that Roy Jones’ hard-hitting punches make the difference.”

Vernon Forest: “Roy Jones is still the best fighter in my era and still arguably one of the best fighters period. Roy with his speed can match Calzaghe, and he has power. So the power and speed is with Roy. Roy by decision.”

Mickey Ward: "It's a pick 'em fight. I'd pick Calzaghe but you can't count Jones out. I can't pick a winner in this fight. They're both up in age. Jones is coming off a good fight (vs. Trinidad). I like Calzaghe to outbox Jones, who has been knocked out twice, but he didn't show any effects in his last fight."

Winky Wright: “I think Roy is going to win. I think that his punches are going to be sharper than Calzaghe’s and I think that Roy is a harder puncher. I think it might go all 12 rounds, but if somebody gets stopped I think its Calzaghe late in the fight.”

Dan Rafeal - ESPN: “Although Calzaghe is the favorite, I think Jones' style and speed -- he's still fast -- are going to give him problems. I think it will be a tough, close fight but I'm going with the upset special. I like Jones to pull it out on a close decision.”

Gordon Marino - Wall Street Journal: ”Jones over Calzaghe. This is a fascinating fight. Jones is still quick and with his awkward style and dangerous punching power is able to freeze very active opponents like Calzaghe. I'm picking Jones by a decision.”

Tim Smith - New York Daily News: “Roy Jones has good power and I think that will offset the volume of punches that Calzaghe throws. Calzaghe has a good chin so I don't see him getting knocked out. I like Jones in a decision.”

Franklin McNeil - Newark Star Ledger: “On paper, Calzaghe should not have much difficulty getting by Jones. Calzaghe is a southpaw, and Jones has had his most difficult outings against non-orthodox fighters. And though each man has quite a few miles on his tires, Jones has logged a bit more. The physical edge goes to Calzaghe, but stylistically Jones’ constant movement could prove to be beneficial. If Jones can control the pace, make Calzaghe miss, score with counter shots and his stamina holds up, he will win. Jones wins by decision.”

Bobby Cassidy - Newsday: “I like Roy Jones in the 11th round TKO. Calzaghe does not have the power to keep Jones honest. I think by the second half of the fight Jones will be picking him a part. Calzaghe looked so good against Hopkins because Hopkins didn't have the firepower to slow him down. But Jones has both speed and power. In other fights, Calzaghe has been able to adjust to one of those assets; he won't be able to adjust to both, especially from a fighter like Jones.”

 

My dad and several of the old timers say that some trainers could teach there fighters the technique to open up cuts with punches . . . perhaps it was one of the art forms that have been lost over time.

The injuries were caused by Lennox's fists, not a head butt or a thumb or razorblades in his dreadlocks . . . by his punches. there is absolutely nothing controversial about that FACT. If Lennox's fist Broke a rib, ruptured a kidney, or broke his eye socket it is still a win (TKO6 win . . . not a techincal decision). . . it is as simple as that. If you want to say that Lennox did not look his best, that is true . . . but nothing else really matters besides that FACT that Vittles could not fight any farther due to the hands of Lennox. Mangina's do not just happen. Now the only way you can dispute this FACT is by saying there was another reason for those multiple cuts opened up . . . and have PROOF.

 

That is exactly what happened in the ring that night. Yes, Older bro did very good that night but his body could not withstand the punishment that lennox put on it . . . there is nothing controversial at all about this FACT